Storm reports for March 17, 2003

IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology

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Other storms on March 17 →

On March 17, 2003, 127 hail, 10 damaging-wind and 6 tornado reports were logged across 7 states. The largest hail reported was 2.50″ (tennis ball size) in Brevard County, FL.

Storm day runs 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern (12:00–12:00 UTC), the convention the Storm Prediction Center uses. Radar hail estimates start October 2019.

Storm reports by state

Cities with hail reported within 5 miles

Hail reports (127)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $128,000 in property damage and $5,000 in crop damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (143 events in 7 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Kiowa County, OK (near Hobart) · Tornado F1 · $50,000
  “The tornado started about four miles east-southeast of Hobart and tracked northeastward. About midway through the path, a home received F1 damage when a large part of its roof was removed and blown to the south. The house appeared to be small but was well built with brick.”
• Broward County, FL (near Pompano Beach) · Thunderstorm wind 92 mph · $25,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds damaged docks, blew boats off of docks and uprooted trees.”
• Kiowa County, OK (near Hobart) · Tornado F1 · $20,000
  “This tornado developed about five miles east of Hobart. The tornado first tracked northeastward for 1.5 miles before making a turn to the northwest for another 1.5 miles.”
• Sarasota County, FL (near Sarasota) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph · $10,000
  “Strong winds downed trees along Fruitville road in Sarasota and caused damage to the roof of a home 4 miles to the east of Sarasota.”
• Cook County, GA (near Countywide) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $10,000
  “Some downed trees and power lines reported by the Cook County EMA.”
• Manatee County, FL (near Palmetto) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph · $5,000
  “The storm caused roof damage with debris landing on State Road 70.”

Event narratives from NWS Storm Data, shortened. Up to six per day, chosen by deaths, injuries, damage and size.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Storm Events Database, as entered by National Weather Service offices; data through July 31, 2026. Damage is in dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation.

Guides: What radar-estimated hail (MESH) is and isn't · Storm reports: preliminary vs final